12 replies to this topic

[Jimit]

We are approaching one of the great festivals of the year. To some this means Christmas, to others it is the Solstice. How are contributers on this site going to celebrate one or the other?

[Arran and Emma]

These modern times are creating a Christmas that ruins the Winter Solstice. The day of the Winter Solstice is going to be marked by most as the busiest shopping day of the year and not as the shortest. I don’t want to wish the day away, but as one being forced to appease the ‘god of capitalism’   . I won’t be getting up to too much. That said, maybe spending the entire night at Avebury will help a day selling books wizz past?

This is a great time of year for Emma and I, because our anniversary is the day before the Winter Solstice (6 years! Wooo!    ). Having negotiated a chunk of time off for the days directly after Christmas, we think we’ll spend the last days of the year doing a tour/pilgrimage of some kind around the sites in the South of England, with many stops off at friends and families.

[Diego]

Just a quick "astronomical" note.
This year the Winter Solstice will be on December 22nd at 01:12 AM (GMT).

Our plans for the Soltice are quite undefined...
We are still looking forward to visit the so-called  Italian Stonehenge in the Southern part of our Country, but the weather is still horrible!
And we talked with an Italian archaeologist about a mysterious megalithic site in central Italy. It's been mentioned by Alastair Service, but according to the archaeologist, that place is now deeply buried under heavy layers of bramble... Very intriguing! We will keep you posted.

In the meantime, happy Solstice and happy Christmas from Paola, Diego & little Alice

[galician]

Well, perhaps I'll celebrate the pagan festival of Mithra's Birth, the Indo-iranian God of the Invincible Sun. Mithra was the favourite god of Roman legions in the late Roman Empire, and Christianism "borrowed" too many features from Mithraism, not only the date of the birth of their God.

[Nigel]

Well Jim, since you've revealed, on another forum,that you will be spending the solstice at Avebury, clad in a black hat, and you haven't clarified whether you will be wearing anything else, I shall of course spend the time glued to the Avebury webcam. I think you should give us all a wave...

[Jimit]

One tries for brevity in language but not in attire......decisions,decisions....whether to wear the little black number with the SO fetching sequins     Unless the web cam has IR vision and is switched on I'm afraid, Nigel, yours will be a lonely vigil     I honestly don't know what I will be wearing, according to the forecast it will be warmer than of late (Ha!) but overcast and possibly be raining which is a pity because the last 2 nights have been superb for observing the sky with a near full Moon and Saturn at its best. Does one wish everyone a Happy New Year for Sunday  :confused:

[Arran and Emma]

We celebrate the new year beginning at Samhain...

[IrishStones]

Because they are so charming, I have been celebrating Scandinavian pagan rituals since my daughter was born (she has Swedish and Danish heritage). So, all our celebrations lead up to the solstice. They are attached, of course to Christian Saint's Days now, but....

The Tomten (keeper of the harvest and magical protector of animals) has come around on St. Nicholas' Day to bring new clogs filled with candy (only if we have remembered to leave a sheaf of wheat and carrots and apples for the animals).

Also, on St. Lucia Day, The Virgin Child of Light, Lusse Lelle (always the eldest daughter) has brought us buns and kindling wood with a candle to ensure our heat and food throughout the darkest month.

All that is left, is to burn the straw goat, swathed in symbolic red ribbons, upon the Yul log in our hearth upon Solstice, to ensure crops in the spring and the return of the sun.

[bobtheham]

Unfortunately, I'll be celebrating on the 21st by working all day showing films in our Imax theater, and all day Sunday joining the droves on the highways, driving over 500 miles to spend Christmas with my just-widowered father and the rest of the family. I'll have to think of something special to do to celebrate between those two less-than-celebratory activities.

On another note, I have finally nearly gotten my page straightened out about my work in Portugal. Critique it at: Stones and Stars Project

[Jimit]

I'm sorry that this year celebration is not the word you were searching for. Our thoughts are with you. Whatever ones beliefs may be,lives go on, in memories.  

[IrishStones]

Solstice, Newgrange 2002

[Jimit]

Beautiful pictures aren't they. I would like to report that the Solstice at Avebury and W. Kennet was as attractive. Unfortunately we had about an inch of rain that night which started about 7pm. and continued until 3 or 4 in the morning. We met A&E at the Red Lion about 9.00 and had a great time, they left and we went to WK, we sat in the car to see if the rain would stop, it didn't, so we got soaked on the walk up. Interesting to see that the original path is now 10 to 20ft. wide confirming the problems they might have at Stonehenge. (Posts passim) A film unit arrived during the night, there was a plot to the story but I think they had lost theirs! At one stage they let off a smoke cannister to get "The Mystery" unfortunately it made the whole place into a no go area and everyone had to stand outside in the rain and wind until it cleared. The nice thing was that they were forgiven for this rather crass episode and everyone was wishing each other "Good Solstice etc." In the morning a contributer to another site (Juami) arrived and we all went back down to Avebury, walked around the bank, and watched the "Keeper of the Stones" have a ceremony by the Obelisk.
Seasons Greetings.
Jimit.

[Arran and Emma]

Great times Jim, great times. Happy Yuletide to one and all. We've finally finished work, luckily we're not one of the souls who have to work tomorrow (though we know many who are - extra happiness to you guys).